Cops: Mendham HS teacher had improper relations with 3 students

Nicole McDonough, 32, of Mount Olive, is facing three official misconduct charges for allegedly engaging in improper relationships with three male students while employed as a teacher at Mendham High School.(Photo: Photo courtesy of NJ Advance Media)

A West Morris Mendham High School teacher previously accused of having sex with an 18-year-old student has been indicted on charges she had improper relations with two additional students.

Nicole McDonough, 32, of Mount Olive, is facing three official misconduct charges for allegedly engaging in improper relationships with three male students while employed as a teacher at Mendham High School, according to Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Mendham Borough Police Chief Pasquale Libertino.

Investigators believe that McDonough had relationships with three 18-year-old male students between April 2013 and June 2014.

The relationships consisted of improper communication and impermissible fraternization, including a physical sexual relationship with one of the three students, according to the prosecutor's office.

The relationship with one of the students allegedly occurred in April, May, and June of 2013, and the relationships with the other two students allegedly occurred in April, May, and June of 2014.

McDonough, who recently married, is now also known as Nicole L. Howell. She was an English teacher at West Morris Mendham and has a bachelor's degree from the College of St. Elizabeth in Florham Park where she majored in English literature and minored in secondary education.

McDonough was arrested Dec. 30, following an investigation conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit and the Mendham Borough Police Department.

The West Morris Regional High School District placed McDonough on leave from teaching at Mendham High School following the arrest.

Buy Photo

Mendham High School(Photo: File Photo)

Official misconduct is punishable upon conviction by up to 10 years in prison with a minimum of five years to be served before parole consideration. A person is guilty of official misconduct if he or she, as a public servant, acts with purpose to obtain a benefit for herself or another and commits an act relating to her office but constituting an unauthorized exercise of his official functions.

The investigation was led by Detective Bruce LaFera of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and Detective Chris Irons of the Mendham Borough Police Department.

Anyone with information relating to these charges or ones similar involving McDonough is asked to contact LaFera at 973-285-6200